A chauffeur picked us up at the station in Arlberg, Austria, and took us on a drive through quaint towns that wouldn’t look out of place in The Sound of Music until, finally, we reached it: Lech. Techno music spilled onto the streets from open-air bars. People sat in trendy ski outfits laughing over brimming mugs of beer or walking around holding skis and snowboards. It looked like a commercial, down to puppies in fuzzy sweaters and Swarovski collars. And all around us were jagged mountain peaks blanketed in thick snow, with people zigzagging down the slopes with skill – even young children. Despite our long journey to get here, we suddenly felt rejuvenated by the fresh air, vibrant music, and...

If you've always wanted to sing about the hills being alive with the sound of music, there is no more peaceful spot than this one located on the banks of Austria's St Wolfgang lake. Garni Seevilla Wolfgangsee Hotel is where poets must come to compose perfect lines and where the heartsick come to find meaning in life again. Here, in the simplicity of splashing water and the sunshine and crisp air, is where life feels good. This hotel came recommended by family and when I saw the photos, I put it on my #dreamlist!
The Welcome
This hotel is a charming wooden cabin by the shores of a lake. Each room has a beautiful little balcony with flowers overlooking the water. In a...